A United States Senate panel has begun questioning interim Attorney General Todd Blanche as he seeks confirmation to lead the Department of Justice, the nation’s primary federal law enforcement agency.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold two days of questioning with Blanche on Wednesday and Thursday.
Central to the hearings is intense scrutiny of Blanche’s loyalty to former President Donald Trump and whether he will safeguard the independence of the Justice Department.
In his opening remarks on Wednesday, Blanche sought to preempt concerns, asserting that he was rectifying past problems within the agency. “We are restoring American trust,” he stated.
Before joining Trump’s second administration, Blanche served as the former president’s personal attorney, representing him in cases including a New York state trial that resulted in Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. He was confirmed as deputy attorney general in March 2025 and became acting attorney general after Pam Bondi’s resignation in April.
While Blanche has previously faced Senate oversight, this round of questions is expected to be more rigorous. He is likely to be pressed about his actions to prosecute several of Trump’s political rivals and critics, such as former FBI Director James Comey.
Blanche also oversaw a controversial civil settlement in a lawsuit filed by Trump against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that shielded Trump and his family from future tax investigations. Additionally, he has taken a lead role in the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which detail the federal investigation into the convicted sex offender.
Critics have questioned whether Trump administration officials, including Blanche, have attempted to protect powerful figures through excessive or inconsistent redactions in the released documents. Trump has a prior relationship with Epstein.
During his opening statement, Blanche made little mention of his personal ties to Trump, only saying he was “exceedingly grateful” for the former president’s support. He highlighted FBI data showing a decline in violent crime in 2025 and emphasized the Justice Department’s efforts to combat cartels and drug trafficking. “I’m proud of what we’ve done to help American families see safer streets and to have a fair shot at the life they’re working to build,” he declared. “None of this is a Republican or Democrat issue.”
Blanche echoed Trump’s claims that the Justice Department was “weaponised” against Trump and his allies prior to the former president’s second term. “In recent years, we watched the Justice Department turned against many of you and a former president, and it damaged the public’s faith in justice,” he said. “We are fixing that.”
Trump faced four criminal indictments, including two federal charges—one alleging an attempt to overturn the 2020 election and another concerning the handling of classified documents. Both federal indictments were dismissed after Trump returned to office.
The hearings have been viewed as a symbolic referendum on the Justice Department’s direction under Trump. Concerns persist that Trump may leverage the agency for political purposes, despite longstanding norms safeguarding prosecutorial independence. Legal scholars note that even without Senate confirmation, Trump could retain Blanche in an acting capacity for months.
Republicans in focus
Blanche’s confirmation remains in a precarious position, with uncertainty over whether he will advance to a full Senate vote. Following the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, only a single Republican defection on the committee could derail the process.
Senator Thom Tillis, who is retiring at the end of his term, and Senator John Cornyn, who lost his primary to a Trump‑backed challenger, are seen as the most likely Republicans to oppose Blanche’s nomination.
During Tuesday’s session, Cornyn criticized the civil settlement between Trump and the IRS. The agreement granted Trump and his family protection from tax investigations and established a nearly $1.8 billion “anti‑weaponisation fund” intended for alleged victims of political prosecutions. Blanche has repeatedly stated that the fund has been abandoned, a claim he reiterated on Wednesday. “I’m under oath today, and I’ve said it’s dead repeatedly,” he said. “I said it to the House Oversight Committee, and I’m happy to say it as many times as necessary.”
A federal judge on Tuesday voided the settlement, accusing participants, including Blanche, of bending court rules and norms to serve the president’s interests. “There was never a question as to who would prevail,” the judge wrote, suggesting that Blanche and others acted on Trump’s behalf.
On Wednesday, Cornyn pressed Blanche on whether Trump officials had formally agreed in writing to abandon the settlement. “Just to be clear, the president of the United States, who’s a plaintiff in this lawsuit, has not agreed in writing to delete the ‘Anti‑Weaponization Fund’ and there’s no guarantee that he won’t raise it in the future?” Cornyn asked.
Blanche countered that a written declaration would be immaterial, insisting that Trump has no authority over the fund.
Senator Richard Durbin, a Democrat, accused Blanche of prioritizing loyalty to Trump over impartial service to the Justice Department. Durbin referenced Blanche’s earlier statement that he would “love” the president regardless of personnel decisions. “In less than 18 months at the Department of Justice, you’ve shown you’re still President Trump’s personal attorney,” Durbin remarked. “Your tenure can be summed up in the four words you said,” he added, “‘I love you, sir’ — to President Trump.”
